NIMC integrates subsidised farm inputs into national ID cards

Riding on success achieved by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on subsidising farm inputs such as fertilizer, pesticides, seeds among others through farmers’ phony networks, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has integrated subsidised farm inputs into the national identity cards system for better agricultural extension services.

The subsidised farm inputs-integrated national identity cards, of which the pilot project is due to commence in Kogi state later this month, according to Chris Onyemenam, director-general of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), will contain farmers’ data. He said this data will be useful for agricultural extension services, subsidies and all the payments to farmers by the federal ministry of agriculture and rural development.”

Speaking in Abeokuta on Monday shortly after the presentation of national identity card to former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Hilltop mansion in Abeokuta, Chris Onyemenam, director-general of NIMC, disclosed that national identity cards registration would integrate farmers in all the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory, beginning from Kogi state later this month.

Onyemenam said, “as we speak now, we are gathering data from farmers in Kogi state based on the collaboration we have with the federal ministry of agriculture and rural development and sometime this month, they will be given them their cards.

“Again, they will be able to use it on PoS, ATMs; they will also be using it to claim subsidies in the various locations where they specifically, currently go to get their subsidies and farm inputs given to them. Right now, we are trying to deploy the system to other states in two phases, the first phase is 13 states which will be completed by the end of the year and the second phase will be the remaining 23 states.

“Like I said, why we focus on one state for now is to enable us perfect the process of ensuring that the data we collect include what the farmers or the federal ministry of agriculture and rural development need for managing the integrated and well-established platform for extending the agricultural extension services, subsidies and all the payments to farmers by the ministry.

“The additional value, this will bring is that farmers will become formally integrated within the financial services sector and it will eliminate duplications and related fraudulent practices that are related to identity theft.”

RAZAQ AYINLA